Minecraft Is Apple's Top-Selling App Of The Year

Huffington Post UK/PA

Minecraft is building an empire - brick by brick.

The "pocket edition" of the game which grips youngsters for hours on end as they create their own world - adapted from the computer version - is the most popular paid-for app on iPhones and iPads, according to a best of the year round-up by iTunes.

The most downloaded free app for both devices was the game Candy Crush Saga which features an array of puzzles involving sweets.

The language-learning aid Duolingo was chosen as the iPhone app of the year, while Disney Animated, which allows users to learn the secrets of creating cartoons and bringing illustrations to life, has been named as the iPad app of the year.